EMPOWERgmatVerbal wrote:
Hi archie1stnorth,
Thank you for your question. Re-positioning the word "which" will change the meaning of the sentence, specifically what the phrase "provided the United States with new land, a strategic military position, and control of the entire Mississippi River valley" is referring to.
Here is how it's written in the original answer:
Known to its considerable opposition as "Seward's Folly", the purchase of Alaska was not unlike that of the Louisiana territory, which provided the United States with new land, a strategic military position, and control of the entire Mississippi River valley.
In this case, the phrase is referring to the Louisiana Territory, which exists along the Mississippi River valley, so it's CORRECT.
Here is how I think you're suggesting it could be changed:
Known to its considerable opposition as "Seward's Folly", the purchase of Alaska, which was not unlike that of the Louisiana territory, provided the United States with new land, a strategic military position, and control of the entire Mississippi River valley.
Now, the phrase is referring back to the purchase of Alaska, and that doesn't make sense - Alaska isn't located alone the Mississippi River valley!
I hope that helps clear things up!
Hello, dear Expert.
Thank you for your answer. I am sorry for being not clear enough. I will try to explain my thoughts better.
You mentioned:
EMPOWERgmatVerbal wrote:
In this case, the phrase is referring to the Louisiana Territory, which exists along the Mississippi River valley, so it's CORRECT.
But the question doesn't ask what exists along the Mississippi River Valley.
What it actually asks is: What
provided the United States with new land etc...?
The answer to this question, IMHO, should be
the purchase, not the Louisiana territory itself.
And here how i think it could be changed:Known to its considerable opposition as "Seward's Folly", the purchase of Alaska was not unlike that of the
Louisiana territory,
providing the United States with new land, a strategic military position, and control of the entire Mississippi River valley.Again, thank you for your time!